Anthony Gordon will miss the Carabao Cup final through suspension in what is a big blow for Newcastle United.
The Magpies are well and truly up against it for the rest of March after a torrid week which has delivered blow after blow.
Anthony Gordon’s red card against Brighton was just the tip of the iceberg. Newcastle United crashed out of the FA Cup following extra-time heartbreak. Fans were shocked to see that Lewis Hall missed the game after picking up an ankle injury against Liverpool a few days prior.
Newcastle revealed Hall would miss the rest of the season with his injury, meaning their entire left-hand side will be completely different for the Carabao Cup final. It was also revealed that Sven Botman will miss the Carabao Cup final after his knee injury was deemed more severe than originally thought.
Toon boss Eddie Howe confirmed Botman will miss eight weeks of action, with the Dutchman set for an operation to remove fluid in his knee. There is a chance the 25-year-old can still play before the end of the season, although it will be tight.
With Newcastle now prepared to play with a weakened squad until the end of the season, Howe has shared what he was old in regards to appealing Gordon’s sending-off.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Why Newcastle United didn’t appeal Anthony Gordon red card
It was a moment of madness from Gordon which he won’t want to watch back again. The 24-year-old will surely learn from the incident, but it is a huge blow for a winger who has been one of the Magpies most important players this season.
Howe faced the press on Friday ahead of Monday’s trip to West Ham United. The big talking points were Hall and Botman’s injuries as well as Gordon’s red card and the decision not to appeal it.
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Dermot Gallagher said Gordon’s red card was ‘unwise‘ and claimed that Newcastle would have a very slim chance of a successful appeal.
On why Newcastle didn’t appeal the red card, Howe said: “We discussed it as a club, with the respected people that we need to discuss it with, lawyers. We just felt that there probably wasn’t sufficient grounds.
“There’s no intention from him to hurt anybody. But you have to look at it and go ‘does this have a chance of being successful?’ – if there’s no chance of being successful, what’s the point of appealing? So Anthony understands.”
"If there's no chance of being successful, what's the point of appealing?" 🤷
Eddie Howe on the decision not to appeal Anthony Gordon's red card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/4WqdGtUD6q
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 7, 2025
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Some positive news in the presser was that top-scorer Alexander Isak is fit ahead of the trip to West Ham and took part in every training session throughout the week.
Eddie Howe’s options ahead of Newcastle’s next games
Gordon will also miss the trip to West Ham and the Magpies game against Brentford at the start of April. Thankfully Newcastle have depth in the left-wing position, with Harvey Barnes or Joelinton the likely replacements.
Things are a bit more difficult at left-back, however, Matt Targett is the most likely suitor to take Hall’s place but the 29-year-old’s lack of appearances this season means he could lack the required sharpness needed to jump straight into the starting XI.
Dan Burn has played as a left-back under Howe in the past, taking that position throughout the 2022/23 campaign and for a fair chunk of the 2023/24 campaign. Howe could also utilise Newcastle’s academy for depth with several young players looking like they could be promoted to the first team soon.
One player Howe wishes he could’ve had was Alex Murphy who is performing exceptionally on loan at Bolton Wanderers. The 20-year-old can play as a left-back or left-sided centre-back, which would’ve been perfect for this situation.